Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs

Melissa Ward has more than 20 years of health care experience, with most of her career devoted to improving care in the senior living community field. She brings with her expertise in program development, maximizing functional outcomes and ensuring appropriate reimbursement in adherence with state and federal regulatory guidelines. During her five-year tenure with Functional Pathways, she has been instrumental in the development of best practices for effective and efficient care delivery within multiple alternative payment initiatives. She also oversees the development and execution of Functional Pathways’ Patient-Driven Payment model (PDPM) initiatives, PDPM Academy and PDPM Client Portal. 

Melissa is an active member of the National Association for the Support of Long Term Care, where she serves on the Medical Services Committee. She is also a Teepa Snow Positive Approach to Care trainer and has led the development and implementation of Functional Pathways’ holistic, cross-continuum memory care program, Pathways to Engagement.

She is a well-known presenter at state and national conferences, including LeadingAge National, and has presented on a variety of topics, such as the PDPM, evidence-based fall prevention, Parkinson’s Program of Excellence, marketing, Medicare regulations and alternative payment model care redesign. Her in-depth knowledge of the MDS, CMI and therapy service delivery has been a valuable contribution to the success of Functional Pathways.

Melissa has a Bachelor’s Degree in exercise physiology from the University of South Carolina and a Master’s Degree in rehabilitation physical therapy/therapist from the Medical University of South Carolina.